Republican values in action. Bloomberg has, if anything, been crueler on homeless policy than Giuliani was. We have a choice in this country: we can either have comprehensive homelessness services (housing/substance abuse/mental illness treatment), or we can have empty bootstraps bluster from asshole pols resulting in this (plus, TB epidemics like that currently ravaging Florida thanks to Gov. Rick Scott's Teariffic cutbacks).

“Republican values in action.” A statement that paints with a broad brush never seems useful (imagine, “Fucking homeless people. They should just get a job already”). Also, I work in the mental health field and with people in the situations you describe (housing/substance abuse/mental illness treatment). There are services out there and maybe there could be more (as well as more run efficiently) but the idea of providing “comprehensive services” is often not always so simple (and not just because there are not enough funds provided)…and sometimes, such individuals refuse help and it’s ultimately impossible to MAKE somebody do something they don’t want to do.

I work on this block and this group of folks doesn't bother me. They are quiet and don't try to come in and shake down my customers. There was a reallly aggressive and gakked out group of 4 younger guys that were on that corner about 6 months ago but thank Gawd they went away. Nice and sleepy bums don't bother me the way young and angry crackheads do. Leave them alone. They'll find somewhere else to sleep once the condos go up.

At this moment, can we please revisit Bloomberg's solutions to homelessness? The first was for the city to buy a one way ticket for homeless people out of the city and make sure that they couldn't return. The second was to start charging rent at homeless shelters. Although homelessness is due to a myriad of factors that are inter-related (bad luck, substance issues, mental illness, lack of familial support), having a leader like that at the helm makes it that much worse.

i hadnt been in the east village since the grocery store was there, when i was walking around the other day and saw that i was shocked. it was a good grocery store, the owners were hard working. the problem too many people that make decisions about places, spend no time in those places.

Matt- there are plenty of services currently available to homeless/mentally ill.Many simply refuse to be helped/treated. I know of one guy on my street who categorically refuses all help or outreach. Absolutely refuses to sleep indoors.Of course, that means the rest of the community has to put up with him. I'm not a Republican by any stretch of the imagination, but don't blame faceless Republicans for an intractable problem.Some people just refuse to be helped.

It's just STAGGERING the complete utter lack of HUMANITY in the posts here (ok - with 1 or 2 exceptions). What is wrong with you people? Where did you lose the connection (never had it?) with/for other humans? Empathy? Sympathy? Are these words/concepts you never heard? We are all humans - some more fortunate, some less. Nonetheless we have been conditioned to systemically condemn and judge others who are different from us, less fortunate, wealthy, "good looking", etc.. STOP THE BULLSHIT, PEOPLE - we are all in this together. Each one of us, in our own way, is just trying to make it through the day. That's it. For some it is much more of a struggle - something I wouldn't wish on anyone. As a great man once said "Without people you're nothing...". Think about it...

@Anonymous 1:03 - first: when did nyc become YOURS - ("my area" "my street") - it is this sense of arrogance and entitlement that has destroyed the sense of community in the East Village. And if you have that as part of your make-up it doesn't matter how long you live here - it is just bollocks.

It's a good thing that you donate to homeless organizations, thank you. Being part of a community, since you live and work here, also means you deal with the environment as it exists. I'm not saying the area should be over-run with crime and drugs believe me. But these people are struggling as are a lot of us with the crap life hands us on a daily basis. As I said - some are more fortunate, some less. As far as rules, well.... Look who made the rules if you'd like. And please - go look up the definition of "anarchy" before you continually misuse it... Let's just go forward saying, as you did, "peace" and let us ALL grow and understand the world around us.

These comments are insane. Why do some of you defend these drug attics? I live on that block and I now have to take alternate ways to walk home as I don't want to pass them. I have seen them countless times do drugs there, urinate all over the street all over cars all over stoops. I have seen them defecate on the street, sidewalk, cars, I have seen them puke all over everything. They go get the free food which they get everyday take one bite and just throw it in the street the sidewalk and leave the trash wherever they are. They completely harassed multiple of my neighbors and girlfriend to the point where they were blocking our apartment door threatening them that the cops had to come on more then one occasion. I have seen them scare young children abuse animals, expose themselves(wave their dicks)with families around and the list goes on and on and on. So you people defending these vagrants are just ignorant and need to shut the fuc* up. These people need to be in protective custody and have ZERO right to be/live in the public.

@anonymous 11:27: I am sympathetic to their situation and am a NIMBY.I don't want this mess in "in my back yard" or near "back yard". @ Matt 4:01 re; "Repuplican values in action". You may be on to something, I don't recall ever seeing a homeless person during the Lindsay, Beame, Koch,Dinkins administrations.

Go back to Lincoln, Nebraska or wherever you are from and lay down there. Of course, those places do not accept it and they would be arrested.

Only here in New York city, do you have the "advocates" defending them and calling anyone who does not agree heartless republicans.

Guliani - while a jerk of a person - did not tolerate this and the numbers of vagrants decreased dramatically.

Bloomberg is not elitest, but he is out of touch (see Mccarren pool $50 MM), he does not walk the streets like we do. Enough with spending millions on how big a soda we can drink , help our rapidly deteriorating quality of life.

Lots of mental and substance abuse issues here but sometimes, a bum is just a bum. Bloomberg still sucks. Imagine if the Olympics was here, like Bloomberg wanted. London is going to be a big mess and the corporate slugs (BP, etc.)will get their own VIP traffic lanes.

Until you stop allowing the criminal element, drug addicts and vagrants to remain and prosper, and demonize anyone who does not agree, the neighbhorhood will remain an open sewer and continue its decline.

You have more to worry about then developers who want to invest in the area.

Hey, July 23, 2012 1:24 PM: " I have seen them countless times do drugs there, urinate all over the street all over cars all over stoops"

There are no stoops on that block(Ave A between 6th & 7th). I live around the corner and walk that block a few times every day, and have yet to see anyone doing drugs or peeing. Mostly just homeless people sleeping or sitting (oh, and the one guy who was cleaning the block every day for a few weeks, trying to elicit some spare change. He seems to be gone now.)

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